Steam-separator



(No Model.)

N. N ILSON STEAM SEPARATOR.

Patented Apr.. 26, 1898.

PATENT FFIQE.

NILS NILSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

STEA'M-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,868, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed October 5 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NiLs NILsoN, of the city of Minneapolis, county of I-Iennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for taking the water of condensation out of steam.

The object of the invention is to provide a small and compact device which may be employed in any steam-pipe, which will operate in either direction, and will effectually sepa- .rate the water and the steam and direct the water into a suitable receptacle, while the steam is allowed to pass on in a dry state.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a very small device in which the surfaces for condensation are rapidly cleared, so that the device, though small, will be of very large working capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary steam-separator adapted for axial arrangement in a steam-pipe and provided with means for directing the water away from the opening to the exit steam-pipe, and a further object is to provide a device which may be used with almost any steamtrap.

My invention consists generally in a steamseparator of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be'more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of asteainseparator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof on the line so so of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the rotary separator, and Fig. 4 is a side view thereof.

In the drawings, 2 represents a cylindrical casingwhich is preferably of about twice the diameter of the pipe 3, wherein the casing is arranged. The casing preferably has a separable head 4, and each end or head of the casing is provided with a pipe-nipple 5 6, into which the ends of the pipe-sections 3 are screwed. In each head is a small bridge 7 to receive a bearing-screw 8. Between the two screws 8 I journal the shaft or hub 9. A series Serial No. 664,119. (No model.)

of wings 1'0 are arranged on the shaft or hub 9 and are set angularly with respect to the axis thereof. Opposite edges of the wings 10 are bent in opposite directions to form the flanges or deflectors 11, which make small troughs at the edges of the wings to catch the water that is deposited on the wings and being blown forward by the pressure of steam would 0therwise pass out of the casing and into the next section of the steam-pipe. Some water will condense upon the backs of the fans or wings, and to catch this I extend the bottoms of the flanges 11 across the hub or shaft 9 to and against the adjacent wings, as illustrated by the feet or projections 12. The fans or wings are rotated at a high speed by the steam, which enters through one end of the casing and escapes through the other, and all the water which is deposited on the inclined plates will be thrown forward by centrifugal force, and, striking the walls of the cylinder 2, will flow down the same and into the outlet 15 in the bottom of the case. A trap 16 is connected with the outlet 15 to receive the water of condensation. The greater portion of the water deposited on the wings is caught by the flanges 11, at the farther edges thereof, and is thrown into that part and end of the casing that is opposite to the inlet of steam. If the inner side of the head of the casing is left plain, at least a portion of the Water that is thrown against the head will be carried out by the onward-flowing stream. To prevent this, I provide an annular flange or flaring ring 13 around the central opening in each head. The backs ofthese flanges or rings have grooves 14, and the ends of the wings or blades 10 overhangthe flanges. The water which is thrown against the head and into the corner of the annular casing will be kept from passing out of the casing by the flaring flange 13 and will drain into the bottom of the casing and the trap 16.

The use and operation of my device are as follows:

The separator is symmetrical in form and construction and may be coupled either way into a steam-pipe, and the steam may flow either Way through the separator with the same result. The steam may at one time flow in one direction and at another time be reversed in direction, as often occurs on railway cars or coaches which are turned end tor end or to opposite ends of which the engine is coupled at diiferent times. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the set of wings occupy substantially all of the space within the cylindrical casing, leaving only the inclined ducts between the wings for the passage of the steam. Oftentimes in steam-heating or steampower systems the supply and other pipes are to a greater or less extent filled with water at the time when steam is first turned on. This is particularly the case in railway heating systems where a train of cars is left standing in the yards and a great deal of water collects in the pipes. When the steam is turned on, the water in the pipes is crowded back and collects until it fills the pipes. Back of the body of water which is thus formed in the pipe there is usually a body of air, and it is necessary to force out all of the air and water before the steam can reach the extremity of the system. This is particularly annoying in railway-work, as considerable time is required to get the steam through a train, and oftentimes such a high pressure of steam is used in the first blow-out that the coupling-pipes are bursted, with the effect of sometimes delaying the departure of a train. By placing one or more of my separators in such a system the first water in the pipes is quickly gotten rid of, and the steam may be forced through the system at a low pressure. water that is forced upon the inclined blades or wings or which condenses thereon is in stantly thrown off by centrifugal force. The revolving blades thus rapidly clear themselves and as rapidly present new surfaces for collecting water. For this reason the actual area of the wings or blades may be very small as compared with the area of most steam-separators now in use.

My separator, which is of little greater size than the pipe in which it is used, may be placed at almost any point in the steam-pipe and used at places and angles hitherto inaccessible with a separator. The separator does not form any material obstacle in the passage for the steam and absolutely prevents the stoppage of the pipe, as all water which reaches it is instantly caught and turned into the steam-trap or other outlet.

Obviously the detail construction of my separator may be readily modified, and I therefore do not confine my invention to the par- The ticular construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described myinvention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The combination, with a series of radially-arranged inclined wings or blades, each provided with a flange ll opposed to the passage of steam or water, of a suitable case wherein said blades are arranged and whereto the steam-pipe is connected, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a cylindrical case, whereto the steam-pipe may be attached, of a series of inclined blades therein, and provided with deflecting-flanges 11, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a suitable case, having a central outlet, of an annular flange arranged about the central outlet, and a series of inclined blades, provided with deflectors or flanges 11 to direct the water of condensation outward, and against the end of the case, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a cylindrical case, of a series of rotating blades, inclined and arranged about a common axis, said blades provided on their farther edges with troughs or flanges, and said flanges being extended from one blade to the other, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a casing, of in clined blades arranged in said casing and provided on opposite edges with oppositely-inclined flanges 11, whereby water entering either end of the casing will be caught, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a suitable case, of the pipe connections at opposite ends thereof, the fan-like device revoluble within said case and substantially concentric therewith, said device having inclined blades provided upon opposite edges with flanges or deflectors 11, raised flanges or troughs about said pipe connections, and a water-outlet intermediate between said pipe connections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of September, A. D. 1897.

NILS NILSON.

In presence of O. G. HAWLEY, RICHARD PAUL. 

